The Marin County District Attorney’s Office received a $465,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a specialized two-person prosecution team that handles alcohol and drug impaired driving cases that occur in Marin County.
“Our Vertical DUI Prosecution Team would not be possible without the funding from the Office of Traffic Safety, which provides the necessary financial means to successfully prosecute serial DUI drivers, said District Attorney Lori E. Frugoli. “By renewing our grant funding for the upcoming fiscal year, OTS has allowed us to continue this public safety program.”
“Impaired driving is a growing problem, particularly with drivers suspected of operating a vehicle under the influence of both alcohol and drugs,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “This program allows us to focus specifically on holding those who decide to drive impaired accountable for their actions.”
The specialized prosecution team will also partner with the statewide Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Training Program (TSRP) to provide training to other prosecutors and investigators, as well as collaborate with law enforcement agencies on best practices handling and managing driving under the influence cases.
This is the 11th year the Marin County District Attorney’s Office has received funding from the OTS for a DUI prosecution program. Last year, the Marin office filed a total of 982 DUI cases, nearly 100 more than the year prior. That included 44 DUI drug cases and 10 DUI combined alcohol and drug cases.
The grant program runs from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
